Coupler, fuel cell employing the coupler and fuel cartridge

Abstract

A coupler including a nozzle and a socket. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a movable pin, and a first supporting member. The movable pin is made retractably movable in the axial direction in a nose portion to open and close the channel inside the nozzle. The socket includes a housing, a collar, a ring-like packing, a valve stem, a valve head, and a second supporting member. The valve stem is made retractably movable in the socket in the axial direction to open and close the channel inside the socket. All portions or components which contact liquid fuel in the coupler are formed solely of rubber and/or plastics.

1. A coupler comprising:
 a nozzle, and a socket on which the nozzle is to be mounted, the coupler being employed for delivering liquid from the nozzle to the socket and wherein: 
 the nozzle comprises: 
 a nozzle body having, at a distal end thereof, a nose portion provided with a nozzle spout; 
 a movable pin positioned inside the nose portion in such a manner that the pin is enabled to retractably move in the axial direction such that, when the pin is moved to an advanced position, the nozzle spout is closed by the pin to thereby close a channel inside the nozzle and, when the pin is moved to a retracted position, the pin is separated away from the nozzle spout to thereby open the channel inside the nozzle; and 
 a first supporting member attached to a rear end portion of the movable pin and fixed, through the outer periphery thereof, to the nozzle body, the first supporting member being formed of a flange-shaped elastic material which is configured to push the movable pin toward the advanced position; 
 the socket comprises: 
 a cylindrical housing provided, on the inner wall thereof, with an annular rib portion extending diametrically inward; 
 a collar formed of an elastic material, placed inside the housing and at a region of the housing which is located further out, in the axial direction, than where the annular rib is located, and sustained, through the rear end face thereof, by the outer sidewall of the annular rib; 
 a ring-like packing placed inside the housing and at a region of the housing which is located further in, in the axial direction, than where the annular rib is located, and sustained, through the rear surface thereof, by the inner sidewall of the annular rib; 
 a valve stem penetrating through the collar, the annular rib and the ring-like packing and enabled to retractably move in the axial direction; 
 a valve head attached to approximately the rear end portion of the valve stem and designed to be actuated such that, when the valve stem is moved to an advanced position, the valve head is contacted with the ring-like packing to thereby close a channel inside the socket and, when the valve stem is moved to a retracted position, the valve head is moved away from the ring-like packing to thereby open the channel inside the socket; and 
 a second supporting member attached to a rear end portion of the valve stem and formed of an elastic material which is configured to push the valve stem toward the advanced position; 
 wherein the coupler is designed to be actuated such that, when the nozzle is mounted on the socket, the junction between the nozzle body and the housing is sealed by the collar while the movable pin is impinged against the valve stem to thereby push one another back to the retracted positions thereof, and consequently the channel inside the nozzle as well as the channel inside the socket is permitted to open; and 
 an inner surface of the nozzle body, an inner surface of the housing, the movable pin, the first supporting member, the collar, the ring-like packing, the valve stem, the valve head, and the second supporting member are all formed solely of rubber and/or plastics. 
 
     
     
       2. The coupler according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the nozzle body, the inner surface of the housing, the valve stem and the valve head are all formed of at least one kind of resin selected from the group consisting of polyetherether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and
 the movable pin, the first supporting member, the collar, the ring-like packing and the second supporting member are all formed of at least one kind of rubber selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), fluororubber (FKM) and silicone rubber (VMQ). 
 
     
     
       3. A coupler comprising:
 a nozzle, and a socket on which the nozzle is to be mounted, the coupler being employed for delivering liquid from the nozzle to the socket and wherein: 
 the nozzle comprises: 
 a nozzle body having, at a distal end thereof, a nozzle spout; 
 an elastic ball placed in the nozzle body; and 
 a back plate which is fixed to a rear end of the nozzle body and designed to be actuated such that the back plate supports and pushes the elastic ball from the back thereof to force the elastic ball to press onto the nozzle spout to thereby close the channel inside the nozzle; 
 the socket comprises: 
 a cylindrical housing provided, on the inner wall thereof, with an annular rib portion extending diametrically inward; 
 a collar formed of an elastic material, placed inside the housing and at a region of the housing which is located further out, in the axial direction, than where the annular rib is located, and sustained, through the rear end face thereof, by the outer sidewall of the annular rib; 
 a ring-like packing placed inside the housing and at a region of the housing which is located further in, in the axial direction, than where the annular rib is located, and sustained, through the rear surface thereof, by the inner sidewall of the annular rib; 
 a valve stem penetrating through the collar, the annular rib and the ring-like packing and enabled to retractably move in the axial direction; 
 a valve head attached to approximately the rear end portion of the valve stem and designed to be actuated such that, when the valve stem is moved to an advanced position, the valve head is contacted with the ring-like packing to thereby close a channel inside the socket and, when the valve stem is moved to a retracted position, the valve head is moved away from the ring-like packing to thereby open the channel inside the socket; and 
 a second supporting member attached to a rear end portion of the valve stem and formed of an elastic material which is configured to push the valve stem toward the advanced position; 
 wherein the coupler is designed to be actuated such that, when the nozzle is mounted on the socket, the junction between the nozzle body and the housing is sealed by the collar while the elastic ball is impinged against the valve stem, thereby the elastic ball is compressed and moved away from the nozzle spout and, at the same time, the valve stem is pushed back to the retracted positions thereof, thus enabling the channel inside the nozzle as well as the channel inside the socket to open; and 
 an inner surface of the nozzle body, an inner surface of the housing, the elastic ball, the back plate, the collar, the ring-like packing, the valve stem, the valve head, and the second supporting member are all formed solely of rubber and/or plastics. 
 
     
     
       4. The coupler according to  claim 3 , wherein the inner surface of the nozzle body, the back plate, the inner surface of the housing, the valve stem and the valve head are all formed of at least one kind of resin selected from the group consisting of polyetherether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and
 the elastic ball, the collar, the ring-like packing and the second supporting member are all formed of at least one kind of rubber selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM), acrylonitrile•butadiene rubber (NBR), fluororubber (FKM) and silicone rubber (VMQ). 
 
     
     
       5. A fuel cell comprising:
 a socket which is adapted to be connected with a nozzle attached to a fuel cartridge for replenishing a fuel tank of the fuel cell with fuel; 
 wherein the socket comprises: 
 a cylindrical housing provided, on the inner wall thereof, with an annular rib portion extending diametrally inward; 
 a collar formed of an elastic material, placed inside the housing and at a region of the housing which is located further out, in the axial direction, than where the annular rib is located, and sustained, through the rear end face thereof, by the outer sidewall of the annular rib; 
 a ring-like packing placed inside the housing and at a region of the housing which is located further in, in the axial direction, than where the annular rib is located, and sustained, through the rear surface thereof, by the inner sidewall of the annular rib; 
 a valve stem penetrating through the collar, the annular rib and the ring-like packing and enabled to retractably move in the axial direction; 
 a valve head attached to approximately the rear end portion of the valve stem and designed to be actuated such that, when the valve stem is moved to an advanced position, the valve head is contacted with the ring-like packing to thereby close a channel inside the socket and, when the valve stem is moved to a retracted position, the valve head is moved away from the ring-like packing to thereby open the channel inside the socket; and 
 a supporting member attached to a rear end portion of the valve stem and formed of an elastic material which is configured to push the valve stem toward the advanced position; 
 wherein the socket is designed to be actuated such that, when the nozzle is mounted on the socket, the junction between a distal end of the nozzle and the housing is sealed by the collar while a movable pin built in the nozzle is impinged against the valve stem to thereby push one another back to the retracted positions thereof, and consequently the channel inside the socket is permitted to open; and 
 an inner surface of the housing, the collar, the ring-like packing, the valve stem, the valve head, and the supporting member are all formed solely of rubber and/or plastics. 
 
     
     
       6. The fuel cell according to  claim 5 , wherein the nozzle and the socket are constructed such that, when the nozzle is pushed into the socket on the occasion of mounting the nozzle on the socket, a distal end of the nozzle is contacted at first with a fore-end face of the collar and then the collar is compressed by the distal end of the nozzle, thereby enabling the valve stem to impinge against the movable pin in the nozzle and hence pushing the movable pin back to the retracted position to open the channel of the nozzle;
 and that, when the collar is subsequently further compressed by the distal end of the nozzle, the valve stem is pushed, by the movable pin, back to the retracted position, thus permitting the channel inside the socket to open. 
 
     
     
       7. The fuel cell according to  claim 5 , wherein the inner surface of the housing, the valve stem and the valve head are all formed of at least one kind of resin selected from the group consisting of polyetherether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and
 the collar, the ring-like packing and the supporting member are all formed of at least one kind of rubber selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM), acrylonitrile•butadiene rubber (NBR), fluororubber (FKM) and silicone rubber (VMQ). 
 
     
     
       8. A fuel cell comprising:
 a socket which is adapted to be connected with a nozzle attached to a fuel cartridge for replenishing a fuel tank of the fuel cell with fuel; 
 wherein the socket comprises: 
 a cylindrical housing provided, on the inner wall thereof, with an annular rib portion extending diametrically inward; 
 a collar formed of an elastic material, placed inside the housing and at a region of the housing which is located further out, in the axial direction, than where the annular rib is located, and sustained, through the rear end face thereof, by the outer sidewall of the annular rib; 
 a ring-like packing placed inside the housing and at a region of the housing which is located further in, in the axial direction, than where the annular rib is located, and sustained, through the rear surface thereof, by the inner sidewall of the annular rib; 
 a valve stem penetrating through the collar, the annular rib and the ring-like packing and enabled to retractably move in the axial direction; 
 a valve head attached to approximately the rear end portion of the valve stem and designed to be actuated such that, when the valve stem is moved to an advanced position, the valve head is contacted with the ring-like packing to thereby close a channel inside the socket and, when the valve stem is moved to a retracted position, the valve head is moved away from the ring-like packing to thereby open the channel inside the socket; and 
 a supporting member attached to a rear end portion of the valve stem and formed of an elastic material which is configured to push the valve stem toward the advanced position; 
 wherein the socket is designed to be actuated such that, when the nozzle is mounted on the socket, the junction between a distal end of the nozzle and the housing is sealed by the collar while an elastic ball which is built in the nozzle is impinged against the valve stem, thereby the elastic ball is compressed and moved away from a nozzle spout and, at the same time, the valve stem is pushed back to the retracted positions thereof, thus enabling the channel inside the nozzle as well as the channel inside the socket to open; and 
 an inner surface of the housing, the collar, the ring-like packing, the valve stem, the valve head, and the supporting member are all formed solely of rubber and/or plastics. 
 
     
     
       9. The fuel cell according to  claim 8 , wherein the nozzle and the socket are constructed such that, when the nozzle is pushed into the socket on the occasion of mounting the nozzle on the socket, a distal end of the nozzle is contacted at first with a fore-end face of the collar and then the collar is compressed by the distal end of the nozzle, thereby enabling the elastic ball built in the nozzle to impinge against the valve stem, thus compressing the elastic ball and moving the elastic ball away from the nozzle spout to open the channel inside the nozzle;
 and that, when the collar is subsequently further compressed by the distal end of the nozzle, the valve stem is pushed, by means of the elastic ball, back to the retracted position, thus permitting the channel inside the socket to open. 
 
     
     
       10. The fuel cell according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner surface of the housing, the valve stem and the valve head are all formed of at least one kind of resin selected from the group consisting of polyetherether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and
 the collar, the ring-like packing and the supporting member are all formed of at least one kind of rubber selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM), acrylonitrile•butadiene rubber (NBR), fluororubber (FKM) and silicone rubber (VMQ). 
 
     
     
       11. A fuel cartridge comprising:
 a nozzle which is adapted to be connected with a socket attached to a fuel cell for replenishing a fuel tank of the fuel cell with fuel; 
 wherein the nozzle comprises: 
 a nozzle body having, at a distal end thereof, a nozzle spout; 
 an elastic ball placed in the nozzle body; and 
 a back plate which is fixed to a rear end of the nozzle body and designed to be actuated such that it supports and pushes the elastic ball from the back thereof to force the elastic ball to press onto the nozzle spout to thereby close the channel inside the nozzle; 
 wherein the nozzle is designed to be actuated such that, when the nozzle is mounted on the socket, the junction between the nozzle body and the socket is sealed by a collar which is built in the socket while the elastic ball is impinged against a valve stem which is built in the socket, thereby the elastic ball is compressed and moved away from the nozzle spout and the valve stem are pushed back to its retracted position, thus permitting the channel inside the nozzle as well as the channel inside the socket to open; and 
 an inner surface of the nozzle body, the back plate, and the elastic ball are all formed solely of rubber and/or plastics. 
 
     
     
       12. The fuel cell according to  claim 11 , wherein the nozzle and the socket are constructed such that, when the nozzle is pushed into the socket on the occasion of mounting the nozzle on the socket, a distal end of the nozzle body is contacted at first with a fore-end face of the collar in the socket and then the collar is compressed by the nozzle body, thereby enabling the elastic ball to impinge against the valve stem in the socket, thus compressing the elastic ball and moving the elastic ball away from the nozzle spout to open the channel inside the nozzle;
 and that, when the collar is subsequently further compressed by the nozzle body, the valve stem is pushed, by the elastic ball, back to the retracted position, thus permitting the channel inside the socket to open. 
 
     
     
       13. The fuel cell according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of the nozzle body and the back plate are all formed of at least one kind of resin selected from the group consisting of polyetherether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and
 the elastic ball is formed of at least one kind of rubber selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM), acrylonitrile•butadiene rubber (NBR), fluororubber (FKM) and silicone rubber (VMQ).